Wednesday, February 26, 2014

I have gotten in the habit of picking a dominant color for my digital spreads and just going with that. This week I picked orange, because I kept picking it up in the photos for this week.

Still taking me longer to do this digitally than I would like. I am finding that I am spending too much time on the title card, so I am going to work on a formula of sorts to decide what to use on it every week to take out some of the guess work. Right now the monthly card plus banner is working for me, now it is just figuring out what else to add...

I have also found that I still have a lot to say! Words still seem to be predominant on my pages whether paper or digital. I don't seem as hesitant to use them digitally because they are so easy to add to anything.

Still haven't had to purchase any digital elements, but getting tempted when I go searching for "the perfect" something for my layouts. Tons of free cards, like the Olympic ones I found on Pinterest.

With having a sick day and meetings during Madeline's school time, not sure if I am going to finish up any paper layouts this week for 2013, but I should be able to photo some PL pages I finished up last week!

Thursday, February 20, 2014

I used one cut apart sheet for the majority of this layout. I can't remember which manufacturer/line it comes from, which is odd for me.

For the title card, I used the Technique Tuesday stamp for the month and heat embossed with with white embossing powder and then added the number stickers from the Simple Stories Sn@p collection sticker sheet.

The first journaling card gave me some trouble since I had a lot to write and couldn't do it that small in white. I printed it and just cut it out.

For the first photo, I used some label stickers from the Sn@p collection and layered them up. I punched a circle on the edge of the first picture, so you would see the invitation to the party was behind it.

Lots of other memorabilia on this page. Used the packaging for the bath paints as embellishment on the second photo. There is a ticket stub as well as an invitation for my friend's baby shower.

Another layout for 2013 completed! It has been fun to still have an opportunity to play with all the crafty stuff to put these pages together, and I am at some point going to "catch up" at this rate!

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Again, this week is all digital. Doing this, I am learning a lot about what I can do in Photoshop Elements. I have learned how to alter the color of just about anything, for one, which is really handy! Things that take me quite a while in the paper world, like titles (stickers or stamps or handwritten) or matching colors take minutes or even seconds.

This week, I again used what I had, or could get for free. The title card is a freebee from Persnickety Prints' blog. The hearts and "love this story" are free from Cathy Zielski. The Sochi card I found on Pinterest.

The photo collage template on the second page is one that I got from a Studio Calico class.

Doing this digitally is allowing me to let go of some memorabilia. If it isn't cool enough to photo or scan, I can toss it. Makes me a little sad that I can't physically add the stitched tag from this week, but it just means I can do something else with it, right? Also means I am not collecting and storing a bunch of stuff that may or may not make it into the album.

Thursday, February 13, 2014

Because I have so many paper crafting supplies, it is a shame to spend money and buy a card at the store. Here are the Valentine cards I made for my family.

The first is a card for my son. He has been singing, "What does the fox say?" these days, even though I know I didn't show him the video..... The fox is from a stamp set from Simon Says Stamp, designed by Kelly Purkey. I used my watercolor brush and some of my distress inks to color him in. Used a Technique Tuesday set by Ali Edwards for the sentiment.

Next up is the card I made for my daughter. I found some old paper in my stash from Saltwater Creek, I believe is the old manufacturer. Layered it up, inked the edges, and stamped the sentiment with this Studio AE stamp set and popped it up.

Last but not least, is a card I made my husband. To make this card I punched a ticket shape and temporarily adhered it to my card. I then used the same Simon Says Stamp Kelly Purkey set and used the strip of hearts in different colors of pink down the card. I removed the die cut and then used a sentiment from this Technique Tuesday stamp set.

They are simple cards, but I love how they all turned out. Hopefully my family loves them too!

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

So here is my Project Life layout for February 3-9, 2014. Yes, I said 2014! It is 100% digital.

I did not pay a dime for anything used on this layout. Becky Higgins has the Project Life digital template FREE on her website, so I thought I would give it a whirl.

I found it much easier to include journaling to my photos. Overall it has taken me about 3 hours to do this layout. It is my first week and my digital supplies are a bit of a mess and I don't know what I have. I am imagining it will go much faster next week. I am struggling on how to add ticket stubs or lack of adding them. Feels weird to just throw them away! Maybe I will keep a small envelope for things like that. I also am struggling on what to do for weeks that have more photos. Don't really have an "add an insert" option.

So what do you think? Do I go digital for 2014? Thinking I am digging that the album will take up less space and I will have more time for other crafty goodness.

Monday, February 10, 2014

On this page I also used a printable from Cathy Zielski here for the Groundhog Day card. Used a Jillibean Soup label from one of their old collections with the gnome on it.

Used some label stamps and cut them out, and a Kelly Purkey stamp set for the "date night" and put it on one of her label stickers at Simon Says Stamp.

And that is another week in the books!

I am moving forward, trying Project Life digital. I found that the Design A collage template was FREE. No cost to try it out, so that is what I am doing. Almost done with last week! It is taking me longer on the layout than just uploading to my private blog, but as I have been putting this together I am seeing all the time I plan the layout, editing photos, uploading the photos, deciding on products, adding the journaling to the cards, etc. and it is taking a fraction of the time. Hope to have the layout up here in the next few days. Waiting on one photo....

Friday, February 7, 2014

I am officially one year "behind" but I keep trudging along. Not letting me get me down. All of my stories and photos and even memoribilia is all in slots for their weeks ready to go up until Aug of 2013, so I hope to start getting some weeks done!

For this layout I predominately used the Simple Stories Sn@p collection. Trying to keep it simple and not over think it so that I can get some pages done!

On this page I used an Amy Tangerine rub on, a fabric label sticker from my stash, as well as some enamel dots from a Kelly Purkey PL kit. Used a Cobalt Core kit card and stamped with a Studio Calico arrow stamp and called it good!

I do have to say after watching Cathy Zielski's Project Life process videos, I am very tempted to go digital for 2014! I could create my pages each week and it only taking 45 minutes. I am pretty much doing most of that work on my private blog, so seriously considering it!

It may free up more time (and space) for regular pages I have been wanting to create. The thought of buying a bunch of digital products is the only thing holding me back. I do have quite a few cards to use up for 2013 as well :)